Combined arch and sole footpad



April 18, 1950 M, F, LEE 2,504,704

COMBINED ARCH AND soLE FooTPAn Filed Sept. 25, 1945 INVENTOR MARY FRANCES LEE l l, ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT orifice Mary Frances Lee, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application september 25, 19115, serial No. 618,506

' 71 claim. (o1.- '36;71)

This invention relates to new and useful vifnprovements in a combined arch and sole protector for the linterior of a shoe.

More specifically, the present invention pro- 'poses the construction of a pad adapted to be inserted in a shoe and being characterized by having an air-containing flexible member covered by special materials best suited for their intended punposes as will present appear.

It is desired to provide a pad which will help to build an individuals instep and protect and build the arch according to the shape of his foot. The pad provides an inside platform so that the foot can be raised, to prevent it from being subject to shock and other abuse due to hard floors and concrete and to cushion it from the friction betweenv the foot and the shoe. The pad Ais de-V signed to protect the complete sole of the foot to the arch so as'to give relief from callouses, burning feet and other foot injuries resulting from misfitted shoes. By maintaining the feet in their own natural shape Vand form by using the lpad, in due time the feet will lose all the soreness which has been caused by the use of various types of hard metals and hard rubbers, such as are used in other types of pads. As the pad is placed from the ball of the foot down to the longitudinal arch, the foot is raisedrto give it enough support and feeling of `a complete arch and metatarsal pad, and releases also any pressure on the heel of the foot.

The characteristics of the pad of the present invntion that enable it to aid the feet are that the pad is only a quarter of an inch or a half-inch thick, soft, flexible and that it fits into the shoe without moving back and forth. Because of its delicate substance, it treats the feet in such a sensitive way that there is a chance while walking to relax and heal or mend previous aches and pains, and to relplace fatty tissue worn away through the constant friction between the foot and footwear over a period of years of hard Walking, etc.

A11 other attempts made before in pads have been treating each part of the foot separately with various parts of metal or hard sponge rubber and have not given complete relief to the entire foot, but only to parts and at times they have even broken down the muscles of some other part of the foot. This pad gives comfort to the complete sole of the foot from the ball of the foot down to the longitudinal arch. As the arch is raised in height one quarter or one-half of an inch, and the foot is bedded in a soft cushion,

the muscles are held in control and the various 5'? 2 partsv that have been broken down have a chance to rebuid themselves Without any discomfort.. At the s'ame time, any pressure on the heel of the foot is released. y

Some treat the foot by adding side pieces of sponge rubber and others by raising the metatarsal or arch Wherever the foot gives one trouble. The airstep pad takes care of the complete foot and doesnt allow ones feet to become disfigured. A further advantage is that it gives one: correct posture because it enables one to Walk erect. It can be worn in high heeled shoes toits best advantage, as well as in low heeled shoes.

Walking on hard surfaces breaks down the bone structure of the foot as well as wearing down important foot tissues. As our shoes are made so that the foot does not stay in one place, our feet are hurt by the friction of hard Walking, especially in womens high heeled shoes, with their thin soles. The tiniest'nerves are irritated when the foot moves back and forth. The pad of the present invention is tted into the shoe so well that it keeps the foot in perfect balance to prevent it from slipping lback and forth, and has it resting on a cushion Which prevents these friction burns and relieves all discomforts.

The airstep pad of the present invention ts comfortably in mens shoes as well as womens shoes, and no change in the construction of the pad is necessary when it is to be used as such,

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refer? ence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended.

. claim in which the various novel features of the:

invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma terial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a pad constructed*A in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-21 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inverted :plan view of a portion of' the pad.

Fig. 4 is an inverted iplan view of a pad con structed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through a pad construct-4 ed in accordance with a further modification ofi this invention.

Fig. 6 is a cross section through a pad constructed in accordance with a further modification of' this invention.

The pad or platform shown in Figs. 1-3, ac

cording to this invention, comprises a bottom;

layer of suede leather I0, this layer being soft and iiexible and being shaped to closely fit in the shoe for which it is constructed with the side margins of the layer turning up slightly along the sides of the shoe to get a rm grip therealong so that the layer will frictionally hold the pad against sliding.

A layer of coarse mesh cloth Il is superposed and cemented on top of the layer I0. Then comes another layer of coarse mesh cloth I2, free from the mesh I I but secured by the adhesive to a layer of fine mesh cloth I3. A layer of sill; or rayon I4, which may be waterrproofed, is secured by the adhesive to the upper surface of the layer I3.

A smaller pad ofsponge rubber I5, of the same general shape as the leather I0, has cemented to its lower surface a layer of ne mesh cloth I6 which has been rubberized with the cement. The f air rubber is covered with a layer of waterproofed silk orrayon I'iV which is secured to the air rubber with an adhesive. This layer I? is folded under the air ,rubber and overlaps therlower surface of the layer I6 to which it is sewed by stitches i8. The pad thushas two members, the top member consisting of the air rubber I5, and, the layers I6 and Il and the bottom or platform member Yor base consisting of Vthe remaining layers. These remaining layers are sewed together by stitches I9.

the adhesive. Y Y l v In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4 the pad is similar to the pad of Figs. vl-3 except that the suede leather layer Ilia isformed of two parts abutting at 2B which is curved transversely of the layer Illa. This structure adds flexibility to the layer IDB. Y

Another pad constructed in accordance with a further modification of this invention Vis shown in `cross Section in Fig. 5. It has the same external shape as the pad of Fig. 1. However, it has two layers of suede leather Itb and 2| sewed together by stitches 22 around their margins. The top member of this pad includes air rubber I5b, a layer of cheesecloth 23 and thereon a layer of rubberized silk or rayon I lb, both layers 23 and I 'Ib being folded under the edge of the rubber Dad the bottom of the rubber pad and the margins of the layers 23 and I'Ib being covered by a layer of cheesecloth 16h, which is sewed to these margins. Layers I6b and 23 are cementedto the rubber pad and the top member is cemented to the top of the suede leather layer 2 I.

They two members are secured together with y Another pad constructed in accordance with a further modification of this invention is shown in Figi. 6. It distinguishes from the pad of Fig. 5 in that the two suede leather layers IIJe and 2Ic are cemented together, eliminating the stitches 22. Other parts corresponding to similar parts of the pad of Fig. 5 are indicated by like references with the letter c suixed. It is to be understood that while certain materials have been mentioned as forming a part of the construction of this invention, any suitable material such as plastics, etc. may be used if so desired.

vWhile I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction-s herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claimy as new, and desire torsecure by United States Letters Patent is: K Y

An arch and sole protector for insertion ina shoe having a top section shaped to conformto the shape ofthe insideof the shoe at the shank thereof, alaminatedbottom section secured to the bottom face of the top section, said laminated bottom section having edge portions projected beyond the edges of the top section, whereby the projected edge portions at the sides of the bottom section will extend upwards along the inner side walls of the shoe holding'the protector in position, the bottom layer of said laminated bottom section comprising a sheet of Vsuede leather for frictionally gripping the inside Asurfaces of the shoe, said bottom suede layer being formed of separate parts abutting one another along a transverse arcuate line so as to render the protector flexible for bending along its length.v

MARY FRANCES LEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:V

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,200,849 Margolin May 14, 1940 

